Test Drives, Trends & Events

 

(Sonata GLS, SE and Limited in front of Torrey Pines)

With the debut of the Hyundai Genesis in 2009, the brand set out to attract buyers on an emotional level, similar to how BMW and Lexus have continued their prevalence in the luxury market. The plan was simple: design a sedan that’s easy on the eyes (not boring), fun-to-drive and put enough performance under the hood to allow it to get out of its own shadow. Then back all that up with an entry level price that’s affordable and tack on a 10 year, 100,000 mile warranty, and “oh, by the way” we’ll buy it back from you if you lose your job, and it’s a pretty good deal.  More...

The auto industry is full of great taglines. Whether it’s BMW’s The Ultimate Driving Machine, Mazda’s Zoom-Zoom or Chevrolet’s Like a Rock, a company’s tagline is the one catch phrase that is designed to resonate with consumers. In some cases, companies like Ford Motor Company have more than one tagline, from Built Ford Tough to Ford. Drive One. There are two that really stick out the most and they come from my childhood: Have you Driven a Ford Lately and Toyota’s Oh What a Feeling…(you can finish the rest).More...

2009 Chevrolet Corvette Coupe
NADAguides.com 'Car of the Month' for May

Selecting a “Car of the Month” can sometimes be a tricky task. With hundreds of cars on the market, from SUVs to sedans, trucks to minivans, the selection process can sometimes be challenging and this month was no exception. We usually work to target new cars that consumers know little about and try to make our review process simple by providing a quick synopsis of our likes and dislikes for the chosen car.

The featured car for May came with some question marks. During the selection process, somebody on the team threw out the name Corvette. It was immediately overshadowed by the growingly popular and all-new Chevy Camaro. We did some research and, of course, every media outlet has some sort of story that features the new Camaro. The 2009 Chevrolet Corvette Coupe quickly became the right vehicle to spotlight for May.  

The Corvette name is as American as Mom’s apple pie and with a 55-year history, it is without question, one of the best-selling high performance sports cars of our time. With three models for 2009, the standard Corvette competes primarily with the...

2009 Hyundai Genesis
NADAguides.com 'Car of the Month' for April

  

When the news first broke two years ago that Hyundai would be bringing a 350 plus horsepower, rear wheel drive, full-size luxury sedan to market, the first thought that crossed my mind was...I'll believe it when I see it. Jumping from affordable small and mid-sized sedans to the ultra competitive luxury market would be no easy feat and Hyundai was aiming right at all of them, from BMW and Mercedes to Lexus and Infiniti. Fast forward to today, the Korean auto maker has delivered on its promise. At quick glance, you can easily mistake the 2009 Hyundai Genesis for any E-Class Mercedes. Yes, I said Mercedes! Sharing a similar looking front grill and a sleek exterior body, the Genesis absolutely fits in with the luxury class of vehicles. And...with the Genesis Coupe now hitting dealerships, combined with the industry-leading warranty and buy back program, Hyundai's future is perhaps brighter than any other auto maker. 

The DRIVE – First Impression
Because the Genesis is all-new and this is our initial review, I spent my first ten minutes just looking at the exterior of the car before ...

When I think of Audi, I think of the blazing fast R8 or the family friendly A4 or A6. Regardless, I think of a sporty German automobile. After recently visiting Germany, I was surprised how many Audi, BMW and Mercedes served as taxis or delivery vehicles. In the States, we view the Lincoln Town Car as our domestic chariot to and from the airport; however, our German friends like to put a little more sport into their “service” vehicles. To be honest…rolling through Germany in an A6 was pretty nice.

So, to kick-off our 2009 Car of the Month program, we wanted to find a vehicle that was slightly off the radar, yet combined sport, utility and luxury making it an all around daily driver. Look no further than the 2009 Audi Q7! More...